Display Panel

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 113126113, filed on Jul. 12, 2024. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

The disclosure relates to a display technology, and more particularly, to a display panel.

Total Reflective display panels primarily use natural or ambient light as a light source for display. Therefore, they are commonly used outdoor or in well-lit environments, such as outdoor billboards, electronic tags, sports watches, etc. However, due to the limitations of the liquid crystal materials themselves, total reflective display panels generally have a narrower range of viewing angle and suffer from a serious color shift issue of display at large viewing angles.

The disclosure provides a display panel with a larger range of viewing angle and better color performance at large viewing angles.

A display panel in the disclosure includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel structure and a plurality of spacers. The first substrate and the second substrate are disposed opposite to each other. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel structure is disposed on the first substrate and has a reflective layer. The reflective layer is divided into a plurality of reflective patterns by a plurality of slits, and the reflective patterns are connected to each other. The spacers are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. An orthographic projection of the spacers on the first substrate is located within an orthographic projection of the reflective patterns on the first substrate. The slits and the spacers are alternately arranged along at least one direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the reflective layer of the display panel has a first side edge and a second side edge arranged along a first direction and parallel to each other. The slits include a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits. The first slits extend from the first side edge and are spaced apart along a second direction. The first direction intersects the second direction. The second slits extend from the second side edge and are spaced apart along the second direction. A spacing is provided between the first slits and the second slits along the first direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the spacers of the display panel include a plurality of first spacers and a plurality of second spacers, the first spacers and the first slits are alternately arranged along the second direction. The second spacers and the second slits are alternately arranged along the second direction. A plurality of third slits of the slits are provided between the first spacers and the second spacers. An extension direction of each of the third slits intersects an extension direction of each of the first slits and an extension direction of each of the second slits.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the third slits of the display panel are aligned with each other along the second direction and spaced apart from each other. One of the third slits is provided between one of the first spacers and one of the second spacers adjacently arranged along the first direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the reflective layer of the display panel further has a third side edge and a fourth side edge arranged along the second direction and facing away from each other. One of the third slits extends from the third side edge. Another one of the third slits extends from the fourth side edge. Part of the third slits is spaced apart from the first side edge, the second side edge, the third side edge and the fourth side edge.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, an orthographic projection profile of each of the spacers of the display panel on the first substrate is circular.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first spacers of the display panel include a plurality of first sub-spacers and a plurality of second sub-spacers. An orthographic projection profile of each of the first sub-spacers on the first substrate has a first shape. An orthographic projection profile of each of the second sub-spacers on the first substrate has a second shape. The first shape is different from the second shape.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, an extension direction of each of the second sub-spacers of the display panel intersects the first direction and the second direction. An extension direction of one of the second sub-spacers intersects an extension direction of another one of the second sub-spacers.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the number of the second sub-spacers of the display panel is different from the number of the first sub-spacers.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second spacers of the display panel include a plurality of third sub-spacers and a plurality of fourth sub-spacers. An orthographic projection profile of each of the third sub-spacers on the first substrate has the first shape. An orthographic projection profile of each of the fourth sub-spacers on the first substrate has the second shape. The first sub-spacers are misaligned with the third sub-spacers along the first direction. The second sub-spacers are misaligned with the fourth sub-spacers along the first direction.

Based on the above, in a display panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a reflective layer of a pixel structure is divided into a plurality of reflective patterns connected to each other through a plurality of slits. The reflective patterns are overlapped with a plurality of spacers. The spacers and the slits are alternately arranged along at least one direction, and thereby diversifying the alignment directions of a plurality of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer. Accordingly, the viewing angle range of the display panel may be increased, and the color shift issue of display at large viewing angles may be effectively improved.

To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or similar parts.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 1 FIG. 3 FIG. 1 FIG. is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.is an enlarged schematic view of a partial area of the display panel of.is a schematic top view of a reflective layer and a plurality of spacers in.

1 FIG. 1 FIG. 10 100 100 101 100 1 101 1 2 101 Referring to, a display panelincludes a pixel array substrate. In the embodiment, the pixel array substratemay include a first substrateand a plurality of pixel structures PX. Althoughonly shows a plurality of pixel structures PX of the pixel array substratearranged along a first direction D, it can be understood that the plurality of pixel structures PX may be arranged in an array on the first substrate. For example, the pixel structures PX may be arranged in multiple rows and multiple columns along two directions (e.g., the first direction Dand a second direction D) perpendicular to each other. The material of the first substratemay include glass, quartz, high molecular polymer (e.g., polyimide, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, or other suitable flexible materials), or other suitable materials for substrate.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 10 Referring toand, from another perspective, the plurality of pixel structures PX may constitute a pixel array layer PAL of the display panel. The pixel structure PX includes a reflective layer RFL and an active device T. In the embodiment, the reflective layer RFL may be electrically connected to the active device T. That is, the reflective layer RFL may simultaneously serve as a pixel electrode PE of the pixel structure PX, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the pixel electrode PE and the reflective layer RFL may be provided separately and stacked on each other.

In the embodiment, an incident light IL, after being reflected by the reflective layer RFL, forms a reflected light RL to create a corresponding display image in eyes of a user USR. In the embodiment, the incident light IL may be ambient light, light from a front light module, or a combination of the foregoing.

110 101 In the embodiment, a method of forming the active device T may include the following steps: sequentially forming a gate electrode GE, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor pattern SC, a source electrode SE and a drain electrode DE on the first substrate. The semiconductor pattern SC overlaps the gate electrode GE. The source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE overlap the semiconductor pattern SC and are in electrical contact with two different regions of the semiconductor pattern SC. In the embodiment, the gate electrode GE of the active device T may be selectively disposed below the semiconductor pattern SC to form a bottom-gate thin film transistor (bottom-gate TFT), but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the gate electrode of the active device may be selectively disposed above the semiconductor pattern to form a top-gate thin film transistor (top-gate TFT).

110 110 It should be noted that the gate electrode GE, the source electrode SE, the drain electrode DE, the semiconductor pattern SC and the gate insulating layermay be realized by any gate electrode, any source electrode, any drain electrode, any semiconductor pattern and any gate insulating layer for a display panel that is well known to those skilled in the art, and the gate electrode GE, the source electrode SE, the drain electrode DE, the semiconductor pattern SC and the gate insulating layermay be formed by any method well known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, detail descriptions are omitted here.

100 120 130 100 120 130 120 130 120 130 120 120 130 130 Furthermore, the pixel array substratemay further include a passivation layerand a planarization layer, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the pixel array substratemay only be provided with the passivation layeror the planarization layer. In the embodiment, the passivation layercovers a plurality of active devices T of the plurality of pixel structures PX. The planarization layercovers the passivation layer. In the embodiment, the material of the planarization layermay be an organic material, and the material of the passivation layermay be an inorganic material. The passivation layeris located between the planarization layerand a metal layer (e.g., the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE of the active device T) to prevent the planarization layerand the metal layer from peeling off due to poor adhesion, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

130 130 101 130 120 s In the embodiment, the pixel electrode PE (i.e., the reflective layer RFL) of the pixel structure PX is disposed on a surfaceof the planarization layerfacing away from the first substrate, and is electrically connected to the drain electrode DE of the active device T through an opening OP of the planarization layerand a through hole TH of the passivation layer.

10 200 300 300 101 100 200 200 300 300 100 For example, the display panelmay further include a second substrateand a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layeris disposed between the first substrateof the pixel array substrateand the second substrate. A color filter layer (not shown) and/or a common electrode layer (not shown) may be provided on the second substrate. The electric field generated between the common electrode layer and the pixel electrode PE is suitable to drive a plurality of liquid crystal molecules (not shown) of the liquid crystal layerto rotate to form an alignment state corresponding to the direction and intensity of the electric field. By changing the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules, the polarization states of the incident light IL and the reflected light RL passing through the liquid crystal layerare changed to produce a brightness of light output corresponding to the alignment state. In some embodiments, the common electrode layer may also be disposed in the pixel array substrate.

100 200 300 On the other hand, the pixel array substrateand the second substratemay also be provided with two alignment layers (not shown) on two opposite surfaces thereof, respectively, and the two alignment layers are used to align the plurality of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer.

10 It should be noted that the display panelof the embodiment may be a total reflective display panel having only a reflective area RA, and the reflective area RA is defined by the reflective layer RFL, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments not shown, the display panel may also be a transflective display panel having a reflective area and a transmissive area.

1 FIG. 3 FIG. Referring toto, in the embodiment, the reflective layer RFL is provided with a plurality of slits, and the slits can divide the reflective layer RFL into a plurality of reflective patterns RP. It is particularly noted that although the reflective patterns RP are segmented by the plurality of slits, they still remain interconnected to maintain the functionality of the reflective layer RFL as the pixel electrode PE.

1 2 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 In the embodiment, the slits may include a plurality of first slits SLT, a plurality of second slits SLTand a plurality of third slits SLT. For example, the plurality of first slits SLTmay extend from a first side edge eof the reflective layer RFL in the first direction Dand be spaced apart along the second direction D. The plurality of second slits SLTmay extend from the second side edge eof the reflective layer RFL in the first direction Dand be spaced apart along the second direction D. The first slits SLTare respectively aligned with the second slits SLTalong the first direction D, and a spacing S is provided between the first slits SLTand the second slits SLT.

3 2 3 4 3 1 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 2 3 4 a b c On the other hand, the plurality of third slits SLTare aligned with each other along the second direction Dand spaced apart between a third side edge eand a fourth side edge eof the reflective layer RFL. An extension direction of the third slit SLTintersects an extension direction of the first slit SLTand an extension direction of the second slit SLT. It is particularly noted that the third slits SLTinclude one extending from the third side edge e(e.g., the third slit SLT), another one extending from the fourth side edge e(e.g., the third slit SLT), and a portion (e.g., the third slits SLT) spaced apart from the first side edge e, the second side edge e, the third side edge eand the fourth side edge e.

1 2 1 3 4 2 1 2 3 4 In the embodiment, the first side edge eand the second side edge eof the reflective layer RFL are arranged along the first direction Dand are substantially parallel to each other, and the third side edge eand the fourth side edge eare, for example, arranged along the second direction Dand substantially parallel to each other. Specifically, the relative relationship where an included angle between an extension direction of the first side edge eand an extension direction of the second side edge eis within 3 degrees, or where an included angle between an extension direction of the third side edge eand an extending direction of the fourth side edge eis within 3 degrees, still falls under the aforementioned parallelism.

10 101 200 1 2 200 100 Furthermore, the display panelfurther includes a plurality of spacers disposed between the first substrateand the second substrate, such as a plurality of first spacers SPand a plurality of second spacers SP. In the embodiment, the spacers may be selectively disposed on the second substrate, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the spacers may also be disposed on the pixel array substrate.

101 101 3 101 101 s 3 FIG. It is particularly noted that an orthographic projection of the spacers on the first substrateis located within an orthographic projection of the plurality of reflective patterns RP of the reflective layer RFL on the first substrate. That is, the spacers completely overlap the reflective patterns RP along a normal direction (e.g., a third direction D) of a substrate surfaceof the first substrate(as shown in). The spacers and the plurality of slits of the reflective layer RFL are alternately arranged along at least one direction.

1 1 2 2 2 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 For example, the plurality of first spacers SPand the plurality of first slits SLTmay be alternately arranged along the second direction D. The plurality of second spacers SPand the plurality of second gaps SLTmay be alternately arranged along the second direction D. The plurality of third slits SLTare provided between the plurality of first spacers SPand the plurality of second spacers SP. More specifically, a third slits SLTis provided between a first spacer SPand a second spacer SPadjacently arranged along the first direction D. From another point of view, each reflective pattern RP of the reflective layer RFL is provided with a spacer.

300 10 10 By arranging the aforementioned slits on the reflective layer RFL and providing the spacers overlapping the plurality of reflective patterns RP divided by the slits, the alignment directions of the plurality of liquid crystal molecules (not shown) in the liquid crystal layercan be diversified. Accordingly, the viewing angle range of the display panelmay be increased, and the color shift issue of display of the display panelat large viewing angles may be effectively improved.

1 2 101 Furthermore, in the embodiment, an orthographic projection profile of each spacer, such as the first spacer SPand the second spacer SP, on the first substrateis, for example, circular, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Other embodiments will be enumerated below to describe the present disclosure in detail, in which the same components will be denoted by the same symbols, and descriptions of the same technical content will be omitted. Please refer to the previous embodiments for the omitted parts, which will not be described again below.

4 FIG. 5 FIG. 6 FIG. is a schematic top view of a reflective layer and a plurality of spacers according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.is a schematic top view of a reflective layer and a plurality of spacers according to a third embodiment of the disclosure.is a schematic top view of a reflective layer and a plurality of spacers according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

4 FIG. 3 FIG. 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 101 2 101 a b a a Referring to, the difference between a display panelA of the embodiment and the display paneloflies in that the configuration of part of the spacers is different. For example, in the display panelA of the embodiment, the plurality of first spacers SP-A may be divided into a plurality of first sub-spacers SPand a plurality of second sub-spacers SP. An orthographic projection profile of each of the first sub-spacers SPon the first substratehas a first shape. An orthographic projection profile of each of the second sub-spacers SPon the first substratehas a second shape, and the first shape is different from the second shape.

1 1 2 1 1 b b b. In the embodiment, the first shape is, for example, a circle, and the second shape is, for example, a spindle shape, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the second shape may be an elongated shape or an elliptical shape. It is particularly noted that an extension direction of each of the second sub-spacers SPintersects the first direction Dand the second direction D, and an extension direction of a part of the second sub-spacers SPintersects an extension direction of another part of the second sub-spacers SP

2 2 2 2 101 2 101 2 1 2 2 2 a b a b b b b. Similarly, the plurality of second spacers SP-A may be divided into a plurality of third sub-spacers SPand a plurality of fourth sub-spacers SP. An orthographic projection profile of each of the third sub-spacers SPon the first substratehas the first shape, and an orthographic projection profile of each of the fourth sub-spacers SPon the first substratehas the second shape. An extension direction of each of the fourth sub-spacers SPintersects the first direction Dand the second direction D, and an extension direction of a part of the fourth sub-spacers SPintersects an extension direction of another part of the fourth sub-spacers SP

1 2 10 b b In particular, the plurality of second sub-spacers SPand the plurality of fourth sub-spacers SPeach have a specific extension direction, which helps to enhance the alignments of the liquid crystal molecules in specific directions, thereby increasing the visibility of the display panelA at specific viewing angles.

1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 b a b a b a b a On the other hand, the number of the plurality of second sub-spacers SPmay be different from the number of the plurality of first sub-spacers SP, and the number of the plurality of fourth sub-spacers SPmay be different from the number of the plurality of third sub-spacers SP. In the embodiment, the number of the second sub-spacers SPmay be less than the number of the first sub-spacers SP, and the number of the fourth sub-spacers SPmay be less than the number of the third sub-spacers SP, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

5 FIG. 4 FIG. 10 1 1 1 2 2 2 10 10 10 a b a b Referring to, in a display panelB of an embodiment, the number of the first sub-spacers SPof the plurality of first spacers SP-B may be less than the number of the second sub-spacers SP, and the number of the third sub-spacers SPof the plurality of second spacers SP-B may be less than the number of the fourth sub-spacers SP. Accordingly, compared with the display panelA in, the alignments of the liquid crystal molecules of the display panelB in specific directions may be further enhanced, and thereby increasing the visibility of the display panelB at specific viewing angles.

6 FIG. 10 1 1 1 2 2 2 10 a b a b However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Referring to, in a display panelC of an embodiment, the number of the first sub-spacers SPof the plurality of first spacers SP-C may be equal to the number of the second sub-spacers SP, and the number of the third sub-spacers SPof the plurality of second spacers SP-C may be equal to the number of the fourth sub-spacers SP. Accordingly, the display panelC can achieve a balance of display effects at multiple viewing angles and specific viewing angles.

10 10 1 2 1 1 2 1 10 1 2 1 1 2 1 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 6 FIG. a a b b a a b b It is particularly noted that in the display panelA ofor the display panelB of the, the plurality of first sub-spacers SPare respectively aligned with the plurality of third sub-spacers SPalong the first direction D, and the plurality of second sub-spacers SPare respectively aligned with the plurality of fourth sub-spacers SPalong the first direction D. However, in the display panelC of, the plurality of first sub-spacers SPare misaligned with the plurality of third sub-spacers SPalong the first direction D, and the plurality of second sub-spacers SPare misaligned with the plurality of fourth sub-spacers SPalong the first direction D.

To sum up, in a display panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a reflective layer of a pixel structure is divided into a plurality of reflective patterns connected to each other through a plurality of slits. The reflective patterns are overlapped with a plurality of spacers. The spacers and the slits are alternately arranged along at least one direction, and thereby diversifying the alignment directions of a plurality of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer. Accordingly, the viewing angle range of the display panel may be increased, and the color shift issue of display at large viewing angles may be effectively improved.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure covers modifications and variations provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.